Welcome to California: Tri Training

We are getting settled here in the bay area. Most of the boxes are unpacked and we are getting into a routine. I can't even begin to tell you how happy I am here. It is hard to express, because I still miss my friends from the East coast... But the weather, the views, and the culture are so wonderful. I'm blessed right now that I have some time to relax because school does not start until mid-June. I'm trying to enjoy this time because it will be a very long time before I have a break like this again (maybe retirement?).

We had a great weekend and finally settling into training again. We joined a new tri club, Golden Gate Triathlon Club, and we did a few of the group workouts. So far it seems much more casual than what we are used to with Asphalt Green in NYC. The workouts are just posted by members and it seems only one or two of the workouts are actually coached. It is still a great way to meet people and learn the area.

On Saturday we joined a member for a 45 mile ride in from Lucas Valley to Point Reyes. It was a beautiful ride! I need to master the art of taking photos while riding, but I did find these photos from the ride on another blog. It was a great ride with a little bit of everything. Some climbing, some flats, open fields, redwood forests, and a delicious bakery right at the half way point!

On Sunday we joined up with a few other members of the group for the Escape from Alcatraz (EFA) run course. It is an 8 mile run. This is a beautiful and intense trail run along the shores of the bay, up and down a few sets of stairs, under the Golden Gate Bridge, across the beach and up a 400 step sand ladder. Much of the run is single track and because it is an out and back course runners are rubbing shoulders with the pros on their way back to the finish!

We started a bit of a way into the course and cut out a little beach so our run was closer to 6 miles. It was a beautiful and challenging run and I'm definitely going to do it a few more times before the race!



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Overall it was a great weekend! Soon we will be swimming in the bay too, but I've got to wait for that long sleeve wetsuit to arrive because the water temp is 53 degrees!

I hope everyone had a great weekend!